- The TExES PE 258 costs $136 and requires 90 selected-response items plus 1 constructed-response question.
- You get 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time inside a 5-hour appointment window.
- Passing scaled score is 240; three domains are each weighted about 22%.
- Approval to test is required before you can register, except under a qualifying route.
Exam Snapshot
If you need the entire TExES Physical Education EC-12 (258) exam distilled onto one mental page, here it is. This cheat sheet is built for candidates who already have some familiarity with the exam and want a fast, accurate reference before test day - not a full walkthrough. For a deeper explanation of every content area, see the TExES PE 258 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas, and if you're still deciding whether you're ready, read How Hard Is the TExES PE 258 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 first.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing bodies | Texas Education Agency (TEA) and State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) |
| Test administrator | Pearson, computer-administered, centers in Texas and nationwide |
| Fee | $136 |
| Format | 90 selected-response questions + 1 constructed-response question |
| Testing time | 4 hours 45 minutes (5-hour appointment total, includes 15-minute tutorial/compliance agreement) |
| Passing score | 240 scaled score |
| Framework | 13 competencies across 5 domains |
| Predecessor exam | Exam 158, last administered September 1, 2024 |
Registration & Fee Facts
Before you can even register for a testing slot, you generally need approval to test from your Educator Preparation Program or the appropriate certification pathway, except where a qualifying route applies. Skipping this step is the single most common reason candidates get delayed. The exam itself costs $136, paid directly through the registration system once approval is confirmed.
- Registration cannot proceed without prior approval (except qualifying routes).
- Testing appointments run 5 hours total; only 4 hours 45 minutes is actual testing time.
- The first 15 minutes cover the tutorial and compliance agreement - budget for it, don't panic about it.
If you want the full cost picture including any prep materials or retake considerations, see TExES PE 258 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. For the eligibility chain that leads to "approved to test," check TExES PE 258 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Domain-by-Domain Breakdown
The official framework has 13 competencies spread across five domains. Three of them carry nearly identical weight, so don't assume one domain deserves dramatically more study time than the others.
Domain 1: Movement Knowledge and Skills - 22%
Covers biomechanics, motor development, and skill progression across age groups.
- Fundamental movement patterns and their developmental sequence
- Skill analysis and error correction cues
- Application of movement principles to sport-specific skills
Domain 2: Health-Related Fitness - 22%
Covers fitness components, assessment, and program design principles.
- Components of health-related fitness (cardiorespiratory, muscular, flexibility, body composition)
- FITT principle and training adaptations
- Fitness assessment interpretation for instructional planning
Domain 3: The Physical Education Program - 22%
Covers curriculum design, safety, class management, and equity of access.
- Scope and sequence design across grade bands
- Safety protocols, equipment management, and liability awareness
- Inclusive program design across diverse student populations
Domain 4: Educating All Learners and Professional Practice - 13%
Covers differentiation, adaptive PE, and professional responsibilities.
- Modifications for students with disabilities and varying skill levels
- Legal and ethical responsibilities of a PE educator
- Communication with families and other stakeholders
Domain 5: Constructed Response - 20%
A single scenario-based written response requiring applied pedagogical reasoning.
- Reading the prompt carefully for every required task component
- Grounding your answer in specific instructional strategies, not generalities
- Practicing timed writing under exam conditions
Notice that the constructed response alone is worth roughly as much as any single selected-response domain - that's worth internalizing early. For narrative explanations of each competency statement, the TExES PE 258 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas breaks down every competency line by line.
Key Takeaway
Because Movement Knowledge and Skills, Health-Related Fitness, and The Physical Education Program are each about 22%, allocate roughly equal review time to all three rather than over-indexing on one.
Question Format & Constructed Response
The exam blends two very different cognitive demands. The 90 selected-response questions test recall and applied recognition - you're choosing the best answer from options describing scenarios, definitions, or instructional decisions. The single constructed-response item is different: you must produce original written analysis, typically responding to a classroom or program scenario with a full pedagogical justification.
- Selected-response items often present a short classroom vignette before asking what a teacher should do next.
- The constructed response usually asks you to address multiple sub-parts (e.g., identify a fitness gap, propose an intervention, justify it with a principle) - missing one sub-part costs points even if your writing is strong.
- Time management matters: with 4 hours 45 minutes total, don't let the constructed response eat time you need for the 90 other items, or vice versa.
Because scoring is based on a 240 scaled score rather than raw percentage correct, every question type matters proportionally to its domain weight - not just its raw count. See TExES PE 258 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for how the scaled score actually works.
Must-Know Content by Domain
Beyond the domain names themselves, here are concrete topics that repeatedly matter for TExES PE 258 candidates:
- Movement Knowledge and Skills: locomotor vs. non-locomotor vs. manipulative skills, stages of motor learning, common biomechanical terms (force, leverage, center of gravity).
- Health-Related Fitness: distinguishing health-related from skill-related fitness components, principle of progressive overload, how to read fitness test data to adjust instruction.
- The Physical Education Program: scope-and-sequence logic across EC-12, risk-management protocols, equity in access to equipment and activity time.
- Educating All Learners and Professional Practice: IEP/504 accommodations in movement settings, culturally responsive instruction, professional codes of conduct for Texas educators.
- Constructed Response: the ability to write a structured, multi-part instructional response under time pressure - this is a writing skill as much as a content skill.
Who Hires TExES PE 258-Certified Teachers
Passing this exam is one requirement toward a Texas standard classroom-teacher certificate that qualifies you to teach physical education across EC-12 settings in Texas public schools. Districts hiring PE teachers, athletic period instructors, and elementary movement specialists all look for this certification when filling classroom roles. If you're weighing whether the credential translates into strong job prospects and pay, review TExES PE 258 Jobs and TExES PE 258 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis, and for a broader cost-benefit view, Is the TExES PE 258 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 pulls the pieces together.
A Domain-Aligned Study Schedule
Generic study techniques only help when they're mapped onto this exam's actual weighting. Because three domains are roughly equal at 22% and the constructed response is worth 20%, a schedule that ignores this balance wastes time.
Movement Knowledge and Skills
- Review motor development stages and skill progressions
- Practice selected-response items on biomechanics terminology
Health-Related Fitness
- Drill FITT principle applications and fitness assessment scenarios
- Practice distinguishing health-related from skill-related fitness
The Physical Education Program
- Study curriculum scope-and-sequence models across grade bands
- Review safety, equipment, and equity-of-access scenarios
Educating All Learners + Constructed Response
- Practice adaptive PE and differentiation scenarios
- Write full timed constructed-response answers and self-score against sub-parts
Run full-length timed practice sessions on our TExES PE 258 practice test platform during your final week so the 4-hour-45-minute pacing feels familiar before your real appointment. For a more detailed week-by-week plan with milestones, see the TExES PE 258 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
After You Pass: Certificate Facts
Passing at or above the scaled score of 240 clears the exam requirement, but certification maintenance continues afterward. Texas standard classroom-teacher certificates are valid for five years, and renewal requires 150 CPE (continuing professional education) hours during that period. Mark this on your calendar now - it's easy to forget once you're a few years into teaching.
Key Takeaway
Your certificate doesn't expire quickly, but it isn't permanent either - plan for 150 CPE hours across each five-year renewal cycle.
If you're curious how your results compare to other candidates or want context on difficulty trends, TExES PE 258 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and TExES PE 258 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling are useful companions to this cheat sheet. You can also start a free diagnostic run anytime on the main practice test hub to see which domain needs the most attention.
FAQs
There are 90 selected-response questions plus 1 constructed-response question, with 4 hours 45 minutes of testing time inside a 5-hour appointment that includes a 15-minute tutorial and compliance agreement.
You need a scaled score of 240 or higher to pass.
Yes, in most cases candidates must receive approval to test before registering, except where a qualifying route applies.
No. Exam 258 replaced Exam 158, and the final administration of Exam 158 was September 1, 2024. Any study material referencing 158 is outdated.
The exam fee is $136, paid through the registration system administered by Pearson after you receive approval to test.